Dr. Niblett, Ladies and gentlemen, Let me begin by thanking Dr. Niblett for his kind words. Chatham House is a prestigious institute well-known for its rigorous scholarship and inclusiveness. You have here many eminent scholars and research fellows, whose keen insight in international affairs is most impressive. I am delighted to have the opportunity to come here and exchange views with you. This is my first official visit to the United Kingdom and to Europe as China's Foreign Minister. But the UK and Europe are not new to me. I first came to the UK as a student more than 30 years ago. Time flies. Looking back at these 30 odd years, we cannot but marvel at the profound changes that have taken place in the world, China and Europe included. Relations between China and Europe have also come a long way. China's achievements in reform and opening-up, in particular, have attracted global attention. I have friends overseas who have asked me time and again: Given China's fast growth, what direction will you follow in foreign policy? What does China's development mean for the rest of the world? Today, I want to focus on the main themes of China's foreign policy and the implications of China's development for its relations with Europe. Ladies and gentlemen, The world today is undergoing major changes and readjustments. With deepening economic globalization and regional integration, countries are becoming increasingly interdependent and their interests are more closely intertwined. To pursue peace, development and cooperation constitute an irresistible trend of the times. However, the world is far from tranquil. Local conflicts and hotspot issues flare up one after another. Global economic imbalance is aggravating. North-South gap is widening. And non-traditional security threats have emerged on top of traditional security threats. How can we effectively confront challenges under the new international situation and better safeguard world peace and promote common development? This is a serious question that all of us have to address. As you may know, the Communist Party of China held its 17th National Congress not long ago. This was an important meeting held at a time when China's reform and development have entered a crucial phase. In terms of foreign affairs, the meeting made a review of China's diplomacy for the past five years and set out future foreign policy objectives in light of the new international situation. There are three main messages coming out of the congress, namely, peaceful development, win-win opening-up, and building a harmonious world. I will address each of these. First, China will unswervingly pursue the path of peaceful development. This is our strategic choice and its essence is that we seek to develop ourselves in a peaceful international environment and contribute to the cause of world peace through our own development. It is a choice consistent with the peace-loving tradition of the Chinese nation and the need for building socialism with distinctive Chinese features. As an integral part of China's independent foreign policy of peace, it not only serves the fundamental interests of the Chinese people but also conforms to the trend of human progress. Some people have some misgivings about the development of China. Their argument is that the rise of major powers in the past has never been peaceful. These misgivings, in my view, are unfounded. In an era of globalization and interdependence, China cannot develop itself in isolation from the world and the development of the world cannot be realized without China. Countries can only achieve sustained development in an environment of enduring peace and fully share the benefit of peace through common development. China's peaceful development is conducive to the fundamental interests of the Chinese people as well as the common interests of people of other countries, and China's foreign policy objectives are consistent with the call for progress of people of the whole world. We stand for cooperation as the way to resolve disputes and achieve peace and development. In short, we are committed to peaceful, open and harmonious development. Second, China will unswervingly follow a win-win strategy of opening-up. Reform and opening-up have transformed China from a closed or semi-closed society to one that fully embraces the world. A multi-faceted and multi-tiered opening-up pattern has taken shape in China. Our interactions with other countries in the political, economic, cultural, security and other fields have never been as extensive and close as they are today. To achieve development in China, a big developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, we have to rely mainly on our own effort. But we also have to get actively involved in international economic and trade cooperation and learn from the experience of other countries. Reform and opening-up have not only benefited the Chinese people, but also contributed significantly to world economic growth and the cause of progress of mankind. China is now a major engine driving the economic growth of Asia and beyond. In the past three decades, China's imports have been growing by an average annual rate of 15 percent, making China the third largest importer in the world and the biggest one in Asia. China's exports have also brought benefits to consumers around the world. The size of China's market and overseas investment will get bigger as the country continues to develop, enabling China to make even greater contribution to stability and prosperity of the world economy. China's opening-up is comprehensive and mutually beneficial. China does not pursue opening-up at the expense of the interests of other countries. Instead, our opening-up is based on mutual benefit, mutual complementarity and mutual assistance. While seeking its own development, China will make efforts to accommodate the legitimate concerns of other countries. We will properly manage economic and trade frictions with other countries, increase market access, optimize foreign trade structure and ease trade imbalances in accordance with international trade rules. We will be more actively engaged in economic globalization and international economic and technological cooperation and competition. Third, China will remain firmly committed to building a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity. The concept of building a harmonious world is deeply rooted in China's cultural tradition. It gives full expression to our desire for peace, our commitment to be a responsible member of the international community, and our willingness to work with other countries to achieve peace and prosperity. It also serves our cause of peaceful development. China observes the following principles in developing relations with other countries: Politically, all countries should respect each other, settle differences through consultations on an equal footing and live together in amity. The right of all countries to choose their own social system and development path should be respected. All countries have the right to equal participation in international affairs and should work together to promote democracy in international relations. Economically, we should cooperate with each other, draw on each other's strengths and make joint efforts to ensure balanced progress of economic globalization so that it can benefit all. Culturally, we should learn from each other, expand common ground while shelving differences, respect diversity, and advance the progress of human civilization through a common endeavor. In the area of security, we should build mutual trust, strengthen cooperation, settle international disputes by peaceful means, and work together to safeguard world peace and stability. On environmental issues, we should help and cooperate with each other and take good care of the Earth, the only home of mankind. A harmonious world is a long-term goal that requires persistent and painstaking efforts. It will be a process in which countries work together to meet challenges, build consensus and expand common interests. It will also be a process in which different civilizations and cultures interact with one another, draw upon one another's strengths and achieve common development and prosperity. Ladies and gentlemen, Reform and opening-up have brought about historic changes in the relations between China and the rest of the world and ever closer interconnection between China's future and destiny and those of Europe and the world. With over 30 years of development, relations between China and Europe have now reached an unprecedented level, both in depth and in breadth, despite our differences in ideology and social system. Politically, our relations have gone through three stages --- from constructive partnership to comprehensive partnership and then to today's comprehensive strategic partnership. A few days ago, the 10th China-EU Leaders' Meeting was successfully held in Beijing, during which the two sides reached broad agreement. On the economic and trade front, the volume of trade between China and Europe has increased 100 times in 30 years. The EU has been China's largest trading partner for three years running now and, I may add, among the EU countries, the United Kingdom has remained China's biggest investor and third largest trading partner. China-EU cooperation now covers more than 40 sectors and the two sides have maintained good consultation and coordination on UN reform, the Iranian nuclear issue, the Middle East, Africa and other international issues. Amid rapid globalization, the fundamental factors that contribute to the growth of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership are increasing rather than decreasing. The shared interests between China and Europe are expanding rather than diminishing. We need each other more, not less. China's fast development will give a strong boost to the growth of relations between China and Europe and between China and the United Kingdom. I am confident about our future relations, because first of all, we do not have conflict of fundamental interests or outstanding historical issue. There is no major political obstacle standing in the way of relations between us. Second, China and Europe follow similar principles in addressing international issues. Both China and Europe are key members of the international community and have important influence in determining the trend of the international situation and shaping the international system. We both advocate multilateralism and support upholding the authority of the United Nations, promoting global cooperation, and seeking peaceful solutions to international disputes through diplomatic means. Third, China and Europe are both in a crucial stage of development and our interests increasingly overlap. In keeping with the country's advocation of Scientific Outlook on Development, we are working hard to build a harmonious society and ensure sound and fast economic growth. We need to draw upon the successful practices of the United Kingdom and other European countries in this process. The EU integration has made encouraging progress and is now at a key juncture. I think you will agree with me when I say that the United Kingdom and other European countries also need to intensify cooperation with China in a wide range of areas. China and Europe can offer more opportunities to each other through their development and our cooperation is mutually beneficial. Fourth, China and Europe need to work together to meet global challenges. As things stand, the international community is confronted with increasingly complex and diverse challenges. In addition to regional and international hotspot issues, terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, trans-national crimes, communicable diseases and issues concerning energy, environment and climate change have become all the more serious. Cooperation between China and Europe in responding to these challenges not only serves the interests of both sides, but also conduces to international peace, stability and development. Last but not least, we are attracted to each other's culture. Cultural exchanges are an important way for different peoples to understand each other and different countries to live in harmony. Blessed with time-honored and rich cultural heritage, China and Europe have much to learn from and offer each other. A telling example is the exhibition of the First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army in the British Museum, which showcases the charm of the ancient Chinese culture. The British people's strong interest in the exhibition shows that culture is a bridge that links peoples together. Ladies and gentlemen, We should make the best use of the aforementioned opportunities to elevate China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership to a new high. To that end, we should make greater efforts in the following aspects. First, build stronger political mutual trust. As two important forces in the world, China and Europe shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding world peace and promoting common development. We should view our relations from a strategic and global perspective, increase high-level and strategic dialogues to gain an objective appreciation of each other's development policies and direction and cooperate more closely on regional and international hotspot issues. Second, upgrade the level of practical cooperation. The growth of Sino-European relations serves the immediate, long-term and fundamental interests of both sides. We should make full use of the existing mechanisms to broaden the mutually beneficial cooperation in economy and trade, culture, education, science and technology, environmental protection, finance and other sectors and solidify the material basis of our relations. As we both take the issues of climate change and energy very seriously, we should explore new ideas and avenues for cooperation in these two sectors and make it another highlight in cooperation. Third, promote greater mutual understanding. Understanding is the prerequisite and basis for successful cooperation. To deepen friendship between peoples of China and Europe, we need to learn more about each other's history, culture and traditions. Exchanges and cooperation between academics and media organizations of the two sides are of particular importance in this regard. Fourth, properly manage differences. China and European countries differ in national conditions, history, culture and traditions, and we are at different levels of development. It is therefore only natural that we don't see eye to eye on everything. Issues such as trade imbalance and intellectual property rights (IPR) protection are issues that have emerged with the growth of Sino-European relations. These growing pains, put in a different light, prove how close our cooperation is. We should try to resolve them step by step through dialogue, consultation and cooperation and we should do so by respecting each other and treating each other as equals. We should draw upon each other's strengths through cooperation and achieve common development by expanding common ground while shelving differences. Ladies and gentlemen, Mankind faces both opportunities and challenges for development in the new century. And I believe there are more opportunities than challenges. There exist broad common interests between China and Europe and between China and the UK. The common challenges we face and the common responsibilities we carry require us to work together to meet the challenges, promote peace, and pursue development. I wish to conclude my remarks with two quotations. From China, it's an old saying: Things that accord in tone vibrate together. Things that have affinity in their inmost natures seek one another. From Britain, it's a famous line from the great poet Samuel Johnson: To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life. Let us, China, the UK, and Europe in general, join hands and work together for an even brighter future of our relations and an even better world. Thank you. Source: www.fmprc.gov.cn

尊敬的尼布利特所长, 女士们,先生们,朋友们: 感谢尼布利特所长热情洋溢的致词。英国皇家国际问题研究所是世界知名的国际问题研究机构,以治学严谨、兼容并蓄著称,汇集了许多国际著名学者和研究人员,在国际关系研究领域提出了不少新思想、新理念。我非常高兴有机会在英国皇家国际问题研究所与在座的朋友交流思想、畅谈合作。 这是我就任外长后首次正式访问欧洲和英国,但欧洲和英国对我并不陌生。早在30多年前,我就曾以一名学生的身份来到英国求学。30多年过去了,国际形势发生了复杂深刻的变化,中国和欧洲各自的情况以及相互的关系也发生了巨大变化。特别是中国改革开放近30年来取得了举世瞩目的成就,引起世界广泛关注。外界普遍关心,中国外交政策今后走向如何?中国发展将给世界带来什么样的影响? 今天,我想主要就中国外交政策的重点以及中国发展将给中欧关系带来什么样的影响等问题与大家分享看法。 女士们、先生们、朋友们, 当今世界正处于大变革大调整之中,出现了不少新情况和新特点。一方面,随着经济全球化和区域一体化深入发展,国与国之间联系日益紧密,相互依存不断加深,各国利益交融,休戚与共。求和平、谋发展、促合作已经成为不可阻挡的时代潮流;另一方面,世界仍然很不安宁。局部冲突和热点问题此起彼伏,全球经济失衡加剧,南北差距拉大,传统安全威胁和非传统安全威胁相互交织,世界和平与发展面临诸多难题和挑战。在这样的形势下,如何更好地适应国际形势的变化,有效应对现实挑战,维护世界和平、促进共同发展成为各国面临的现实问题。 前不久,中国共产党召开了第十七次全国代表大会。这是在国际形势深刻变化、中国改革发展进入关键阶段背景下召开的一次重要会议。会议为今后一个时期中国外交工作指明了方向。我认为,会议主要向外界传达了三个重要信息: 第一,中国将始终不渝走和平发展的道路。这一战略抉择的核心思想,就是通过维护世界和平来发展自己,又通过自身的发展来促进世界和平。这是对中华民族热爱和平传统的继承与发扬,是发展中国特色社会主义的本质要求,也是中国独立自主的和平外交政策的应有之义,不仅符合中国人民的根本利益,也顺应了人类进步的时代潮流。 有人认为,在人类发展史上,没有哪个大国的崛起是通过和平手段实现的,因此对中国的和平发展道路也产生了疑虑。事实上,这种担忧是没有必要的。在相互依存的全球化时代,中国的发展离不开世界,世界的发展同样离不开中国。各国只有在持久和平中才能实现持续发展,只有在共同发展中才能共享和平。 和平发展道路指明了中国实现发展的途径和方式。中国政府决心将中国人民的根本利益与各国人民的共同利益结合起来,将本国的对外政策主张与各国人民的进步意愿结合起来,以合作谋和平,以合作促发展,以合作解争端。中国将努力实现和平的发展、开放的发展、合作的发展、和谐的发展。 第二,中国将始终不渝奉行互利共赢的开放战略。改革开放使中国实现了从封闭半封闭到全面开放的伟大历史转折,形成了全方位、多层次、宽领域的对外开放格局,在政治、经济、文化、安全等方面同国际社会建立起前所未有的广泛、深入联系。 对于中国这样一个拥有13亿人口的发展中大国来说,要发展起来,既要依靠自己的力量,也离不开积极参与国际经济贸易合作,积极学习、借鉴其他国家的发展经验。回首中国29年改革开放历程,中国的发展不仅使本国人民走上富裕安康道路,而且为世界经济发展和人类文明进步作出了重大贡献,并已成为本地区乃至世界经济增长的重要引擎。过去30年间,中国年均进口增速达15%以上,已经成为世界第三大进口市场和亚洲第一大进口市场。中国的产品也为世界各国的消费者带来了实惠。随着中国的发展,市场规模、对外投资等必将进一步扩大,为世界经济的稳定和繁荣作出更大的贡献。 中国的对外开放是全面、互利、双赢的。在这一进程中,中国没有也不会以牺牲他国利益为代价,而是积极寻求与所有国家开展互利、互补、互助和互惠的合作。中国将在实现本国发展的同时,兼顾其他国家的正当关切,妥善处理与其他国家的经贸摩擦,继续按照通行的国际贸易规则,扩大市场准入,改善外贸结构,缓解贸易不平衡矛盾,在更大范围、更广领域和更高层次上参与经济全球化,参与国际经济技术合作和竞争。 第三,中国将努力推动建设持久和平、共同繁荣的和谐世界。和谐世界思想的提出,凝聚了中国传统文化的精髓,向世界传递了中国在快速发展壮大过程中,渴望和平发展、愿作负责任大国,并希望与其他各国共建持久和平、共同繁荣世界的强烈信息。推动建设和谐世界,是中国坚持走和平发展道路的必然要求,是中国实现和平发展的重要条件。 中国致力于同各国在政治上相互尊重、平等协商、和谐相处,尊重各国人民自主选择社会制度和发展道路的权利,坚持各国平等参与国际事务,共同推进国际关系民主化;在经济上相互合作、优势互补,共同推动经济全球化进程朝着均衡、普惠、共赢方向发展;在文化上相互借鉴、求同存异,尊重世界多样性,共同促进人类文明繁荣进步;在安全上相互信任、加强合作,坚持用和平方式而不是战争手段解决国际争端,共同维护世界和平稳定;在环保上相互帮助、协力推进,共同呵护人类赖以生存的地球家园。 和谐世界是一个长远的理想,实现这一目标将是一个长期复杂的过程,也是各国合力应对挑战、不断寻求共识、扩大共同利益的过程,是不同文明、文化之间相互对话、相互借鉴、共同发展繁荣的过程。 女士们、先生们、朋友们, 中国改革开放近30年来,同世界的关系发生了历史性变化,中国的前途命运日益紧密地同包括欧洲在内的世界各国的前途命运密切联系在一起。 综观中欧关系30多年的发展历程,双边关系超越了意识形态和社会制度的差异,双边合作的广度与深度前所未有。政治上,中欧关系连续跨越了建设性伙伴关系、全面伙伴关系、全面战略伙伴关系三个台阶。前不久,第十次中欧领导人会晤在北京成功举行,达成了广泛共识;经贸上,中欧贸易额30年增加了100倍,欧盟已连续3年成为中国最大贸易伙伴,英国也一直保持欧盟最大对华投资国和第三大对华贸易伙伴地位;中欧全面合作已拓展到40多个领域;双方在联合国改革、伊朗核问题、中东和非洲等国际问题上保持了良好沟通与协调。 随着全球化迅速发展,中欧发展全面战略伙伴关系的根本性因素没有减少,而是在不断增加;中欧之间的共同利益没有减少,而是在不断加强;中欧之间的相互需要没有减少,而是在不断上升。中国的快速发展为中欧、中英关系的发展提供了新的、更好的机遇。 首先,中欧没有直接地缘战略冲突和历史遗留问题,也没有根本利害冲突,双方关系的发展不存在重大政治障碍。 其次,中欧处理国际问题的理念相近。中欧都是国际社会的重要成员,对未来国际格局的走向和国际体系的塑造都有重要影响。我们都倡导多边主义,支持维护联合国的权威,致力于推进全球合作,主张努力通过外交手段和平解决国际争端。 第三,中欧都处于重要发展阶段,双方利益汇合点不断扩大。当前,中国正在全面推进改革开放和现代化建设,提出构建和谐社会、贯彻落实科学发展观,实现经济又好又快的发展。我们在这一进程中需要借鉴包括英国在内的欧洲国家的成功经验。欧盟一体化建设取得了可喜进展,正处在关键阶段。英国等欧洲国家在许多方面也需要加强同中国的合作。可以说,双方的发展互为机遇,合作互补互利。 第四,中欧需要共同应对全球性挑战。当前,国际社会面临的挑战日益复杂化和多元化,除了国际和地区热点问题外,恐怖主义、大规模杀伤性武器扩散、跨国犯罪、传染性疾病,以及能源、环保、气候变化等问题也越来越突出。面对21世纪的国际竞争与挑战,中欧需要加强合作。这不仅符合双方的利益,也是对国际和平、稳定与发展的贡献。 最后,中欧文化相互吸引。文化交流是各民族沟通心灵的重要渠道,也是各民族和谐相处的重要基础。不同文化的相互借鉴和融合,对增进各国人民的相互了解十分重要。中国和欧洲的文明都源远流长,博大精深,有很多可以交流和借鉴之处。正在大英博物馆举办的秦始皇兵马俑展向英国人民生动地展示了中国古老文化的迷人魅力,受到英国观众的热烈欢迎和好评。这表明,文化是双方人民之间的重要联系纽带。 如何抓住上述机遇,推动中欧关系取得更大发展,是摆在我们面前的一个共同课题。我认为,中欧应在现有关系良好发展的基础上共同努力,不断提高全面战略伙伴关系的水平: --提升中欧政治互信的水平。中欧作为世界上有重要影响的力量,都肩负着维护世界和平、促进共同发展的责任。双方应坚持从战略高度和全球角度把握中欧关系,加强高层和战略层面的对话,增进对彼此发展政策和方向的理性认识,扩大在国际和地区热点问题上的合作; --提升中欧务实合作的水平。中欧关系的发展符合各自现实、长远和根本利益。双方应充分利用现有机制,拓展在经贸、文化、教育、科技、环保、金融等各领域的互利合作,为中欧关系奠定更为坚实的物质基础。现在,双方都很重视气候变化和能源问题,可以积极探索在这两个领域开展具体合作的新思路和新方式,使其成为双边合作的新亮点。 --提升中欧相互了解的水平。了解是合作的前提和基础。中欧应加深对彼此历史文化传统的了解,进一步培育中欧人民之间的友好感情。在这方面,加强学术界和媒体界的交流与合作尤为重要。 --提高双方化解分歧的水平。中欧由于基本国情、发展水平和历史文化传统等方面的差异,在一些问题上还存在着不同看法甚至分歧,这是正常的。诸如贸易不平衡、知识产权保护等问题,属于中欧关系发展中的问题,成长中的烦恼,从侧面反映出中欧合作日益紧密。对于上述问题,双方应在相互尊重、平等相待的基础上,通过对话、协商、合作逐步加以解决,力争在平等协作中取长补短,在求同存异中谋求共同发展。 女士们、先生们,朋友们, 新世纪人类社会的发展机遇与挑战并存,机遇大于挑战。中欧、中英之间有着广泛共同利益,面临着共同挑战,承担着共同责任,这需要我们共享机遇,共促和平,共谋发展,共迎挑战。 中国有句古话,叫做"同声相应,同气相投",意思是:意见相同的人互相响应,志趣相投的人自然结合在一起。贵国著名诗人塞缪尔·约翰逊这样勉励我们:"积极地去创造并抓住那些我们触手可及的好机会,这是人生最大的艺术。" 让中欧、中英携起手来,为中欧、中英关系和整个世界更加美好的明天而努力。 谢谢大家。